Long range wireless credentials for entryway

ABSTRACT

An access control system having one or more system antennas that are configured to emit a first signal having a first frequency that is detected by the credential device. The credential device is configured to harvest electrical power from at least a portion of the detected first signal. At least a portion of the harvested electrical power may be used by the credential device to transmit a second signal to a reader device, the second signal containing information indicative of a credential stored on the credential device. Further, the second signal has a second frequency that is different than the first frequency of the first signal. The reader device and/or a server may evaluate the transmitted credential to determine whether the credential is associated with an authority to operate the reader device, such as, for example, an authority to unlock a lock mechanism of the reader device.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present application generally relate a wirelesscredential access control system. More particularly, embodiments of thepresent invention relate to a wireless credential access control systemthat utilizes wireless transmissions using a first signal to providepower to a credential device, and wireless transmissions using a secondsignal for operation of a reader device, and wherein the second signalhas a frequency that is different than a frequency of the first signal.

Security management systems often utilize hardware, such as, forexample, reader devices, including electronic lock devices, to controlthe ingress and/or egress through an entryway. In at least certainapplications, operation of the reader device often requires that a userretrieve a credential, such as, for example, a card or badge, amongother credentials, and position the credential in relatively closeproximity the reader device. For example, a user may retrieve acredential from the user's wallet, purse, key chain, or necklace, andthen, once retrieved, position the credential within a couple inches of,or against, the reader device. Information on the presented credentialmay then be received by the reader device and evaluated to determinewhether the credential is authorized to operate the reader device, suchas, for example, unlock an electronic lock. Thus, operation of thecredential device typically requires the user to not only retrieve thecredential, but to also actively address the reader device bypositioning the credential within a relatively close proximity to, oragainst, the reader device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is a method for communicating acredential from a credential device to a reader device. The methodincludes detecting, by the credential device, a first signal that uses afirst frequency. Electrical power from the detected first signal isharvested by the credential device and used in transmitting a secondsignal from the credential device to the reader device. Additionally,the second signal provides information relating to the credential, anduses a second frequency that is different than the first frequency.

Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless credential accesscontrol system that includes at least one system antenna that is adaptedto emit a first signal that has a first frequency. The access controlsystem also includes at least one credential device that has at leastone antenna and a processing device. The at least one antenna isconfigured to detect the first signal. Additionally, the at least onecredential device is configured to harvest energy from the detectedfirst signal to provide power for at least the transmission of acredential from the at least one credential device via a second signal,the second signal having a second frequency that is different than thefirst frequency of the first signal.

Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless credential accesscontrol system that includes at least one system antenna that is adaptedto emit a first signal that has a first frequency. The access controlsystem further includes at least one credential device having a firstantenna that is adapted to detect the first signal. Additionally, the atleast one credential device is configured to harvest energy from atleast a portion of the first signal that is detected by the firstantenna. The at least one credential device is also adapted to transmita credential via a second signal using the harvested energy, the secondsignal having a second frequency that is different than the firstfrequency of the first signal. The access control system furtherincludes a reader device having a reader antenna, a processing device,and a lock mechanism. The reader antenna is configured to receive thesecond signal transmitted from the at least one credential device.Additionally, the reader device is adapted to evaluate the credentialtransmitted from the at least one credential device and to place thelock mechanism in an unlocked position based on an outcome of theevaluation of the credential.

Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent byconsideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary wirelesscredential access control system that includes a reader device, acredential device, a system antenna, and a server according to anillustrated embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a credential device and areader device according to an illustrated embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary process forconducting a transmission between a credential device and a readerdevice according to an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certainembodiments. It should be understood, however, that the presentinvention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shownin the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary wirelesscredential access control system 100 that includes one or more readerdevices 102, one or more system antennas 104, at least one credentialdevice 106, and a server 108, according to an illustrated embodiment ofthe present invention. According to certain embodiments, the accesscontrol system 100 may control the ability to open a barrier 110, suchas, for example, a door or gate, from a locked, closed position to anunlocked, open position so as to allow passage through, or access to,the entryway 112. According to certain embodiments, the access controlsystem 100 may or may not include different types of reader devices 102and/or different types of credential devices 106. According to certainembodiments, the system antenna(s) 104 is configured to emit a firstsignal having a first frequency that is detected by the credentialdevice 106, and which is used in inducing an electrical current in thecredential device 106. Moreover, the credential device 106 may beconfigured to harvest energy from the detected first signal, with theharvested energy providing power to at least assist in the credentialdevice 106 being able to provide information to the reader device 102over at least a second signal, the second signal having a secondfrequency that is different than the first frequency of the firstsignal.

According to certain embodiments, the one or more system antennas 104may be configured to emit the first signal using radio frequency (RF)techniques. For example, according to certain embodiments, the firstsignal emitted from the system antenna 104 may be an electromagneticsignal having a first frequency that is received or otherwise detectedand harvested by the credential device 106. The system antenna 104 maybe positioned at a variety of locations, such as, for example, in a wall114 of a room that has an entryway 112 through which access/passage iscontrolled by the reader device 102. Moreover, one or more of the systemantennas 104 may be positioned at a variety of locations within theroom, including, for example, in a sidewall, floor, and/or ceiling.Further, the system antenna 104 may be configured to provide minimal, ifany, interference with the architectural detail or aesthetic appearanceof the surrounding environment and/or components. For example, accordingto certain embodiments, the system antenna 104 may be obscured fromview, or otherwise configured to at least relatively assimilate tosurrounding components, such as the molding of the associated roomand/or entryway 112. Further, according to certain embodiments, one ormore of the system antennas 104 may be an antenna of the reader device102.

The number of system antennas 104 employed may depend on a variety ofdifferent criteria, including, for example, the size of the systemantennas 104 and the range of transmission of the first signal from thesystem antennas 104. Further, as discussed below, according to certainembodiments, a plurality of system antennas 104 may be positioned inrelatively close proximity to the credential device 106, which mayimprove the strength of the power supplied to the credential device 106via the first signal. Additionally, the system antennas 104 may bepositioned so that the credential device 106 is continuously providedwith access to power via signals emitted from the system antennas 104 asthe credential device 106 is moved into closer proximity to the readerdevice 102. Additionally, the system antennas 104 may be used forconveying energy by far or near fields.

Referencing FIGS. 1 and 2, the credential device 106 may have a varietyof different forms, including, for example, being an identification cardor badge, key fob, or other security device used to secure informationthat is used in connection with authorization to pass through anentryway 112 via the operation of the reader device 102. According tocertain embodiments, the credential device 106 may include a firstantenna 116 that may be a passive, semi-passive, or active transceiverthat may or may not be housed, embedded, or otherwise secured to asubstrate 118. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the firstantenna 116 may be operably connected to a processing device 120.Further, according to certain embodiments, the antenna 116 andprocessing device 120 may comprise at least a portion of a passive,semi-passive, or active RFID transponder tag 122.

According to certain embodiments, the first antenna 116 may beconfigured to at least capture electromagnetic energy emitted from thesystem antenna 104 via the first signal. According to such embodiments,the electromagnetic energy captured by the first antenna 116 may beharvested by the credential device 106 to provide electrical power to atleast assist in the operation of the credential device 106. For example,according to certain embodiments, energy harvested by the credentialdevice 106 from the energy captured from the first signal may at leastassist in providing power for the transmission of one or more signalsfrom the credential device 106 to the reader device 102 using a secondsignal, the second signal having a second frequency that is differentthan the first frequency of the first signal. Additionally, suchtransmission from the credential device 106 to the reader device 102 maybe emitted from the first antenna 116, or by a another, second antenna124.

A variety of different types of antennas may be used for the firstantenna 116 and/or the second antenna 124 of the credential device 106.For example, according to certain embodiments, either or both the firstantenna 116 and the second antenna 124 may be a transceiver, including,for example, an active or passive transceivers. For example, accordingto certain embodiments, the first antenna 116 may be a first antenna ortransceiver for at least receiving electromagnetic energy emitted via atleast a first signal, and the second antenna may be a second transceiverfor receiving communications using a bandwidth wireless communicationprotocol, including, for example, Bluetooth (including Bluetooth lowenergy), Zigbee, Near Field Communication (NFC), and/or IEEE 802.15,among other communication protocols. Further, the second signal may usea wireless communication protocol, such as, for example, a low bandwidthwireless communication protocol, and has a second frequency that isdifferent than the first frequency of the first signal.

According to certain devices, the second signal may operate over arelatively greater distance than the first signal. For example,according to certain embodiments, the first signal may be anelectromagnetic signal that allows the first antenna 116 to receive andharvest a signal that is emitted from a system antenna 104 that ispositioned about 1 feet to about 10 feet, and more specifically, fromabout 2 feet to about 5 feet, from the credential device 106, while thesecond signal may allow reader device 102 to communicate with thecredential device 106 from a farther distance, such as, for example,from a distance of about 100 feet or more. Such distances may beselected to allow for the communication of credentials of the credentialdevice 106 to the reader device 102 and verification of thosecommunicated credentials before the credential device 106 is presentedto the reader device 102 and/or before the user of the credential device106 reaches or otherwise attempts to gain access through the associatedentryway 112. Thus, according to certain embodiments, the systemantennas 104 may be placed in relatively close proximity to potentialpathways of the user that has the credential device 106, but also at anouter transmission range of the second signal relative to the readerdevice 102. Such a configuration may allow the credential device 106 toreceive power via the first signal that is emitted from system antenna104 when the credential device 106 comes within transmission range ofsecond signal relative to the reader device 102, thereby allowing forthe communication and verification of the credentials of the credentialdevice 106 before the user and credential device 106 reach the readerdevice 102 and/or the associated entryway 112.

The credential device 106 may also include a memory 126 that may or maynot be part of the processing device 120. Further, according to certainembodiments, the processing device 120 may be a read-write microchip ora read-only microchip. Additionally, according to certain embodiments,the memory 126 may store credential information relating to theauthorization of the credential device 106 to operate the reader device102 and/or authority to gain passage through the entryway 112. In thedepicted form, the processing device 120 is of a programmable varietythat executes algorithms and processes data in accordance with operatinglogic 128 as defined by programming instructions (such as software orfirmware) stored in the memory 126. Alternatively or additionally, theoperating logic 128 is at least partially defined by hardwired logic orother hardware. The processing device 120 may include one or morecomponents of any type suitable to process the signals received from thefirst antenna 116 or elsewhere, and to provide desired output signalsfor transmission from the first antenna 116 or another, second antenna124. Such components may include digital circuitry, analog circuitry, ora combination of both.

According to certain embodiments in which the first antenna 116 is apassive or semi-passive transceiver and/or the credential device 106includes a passive or semi-passive RFID transponder tag 122, thecredential device 106 may include a power storage device 130, such as,for example, a battery or capacitor, among other power storage devices.The power storage device 130 may store energy, at least momentarily,that is harvested from the energy received by the first antenna via thefirst signal. Such stored energy may be used for a variety of differentoperations, including, for example, storing information in the memory126 of the credential device 106 and/or operation of the processingdevice 120. Additionally, such stored energy may, or may not, be usedwith other energy harvested by the credential device 106 in thecommunication of information relating to the credential device 106 tothe reader device 102, such as, for example, the transmission ofcredential information via the first or second 116, 124 to the readerdevice 102 using a second signal.

The reader device 102 may be a reader, a lock, a payment terminal,and/or any other type of device that is configured to communicate withthe credential device 106 to receive a credential, or other secret orsecure data for processing. According to certain embodiments, the readerdevice 102 is an electronic lock device having one or more readerantennas 132, a processing device 134, a memory 136, and a lockmechanism 138, such as, for, example, bolt and/or latch. According tocertain embodiments, at least one reader antenna 132 may be a systemantenna 104 that emits a signal using the first signal that is used toprovide power for the operation of the credential device 106.Additionally, the memory 136 of the reader device 102 may include alocal database that may be configured to store an access log, location,type identifier, and/or any other information relating to the operationof and/or access permissions for, the reader device 102. The readerdevice 102 may further include non-transitory computer executableinstructions to perform various operations on the reader device 102,such as, for example, functionality to lock and unlock the lockmechanism 138, verify access permissions associated with the credentialreceived by the reader device 102 from the credential device 106, andupdate the local database stored in the memory 136, among otheroperations.

According to certain embodiments, the reader device 102 may include areader antenna 132 that is configured for communication with thecredential device 106, the server 108, and/or other transmitters usingthe second signal. As previously discussed, the second signal may beused for communications using one or more wireless protocols, such as,for example, a bandwidth wireless protocol, a carrier frequency, or anetwork band, among other protocols. Additionally, according to certainembodiments, the reader antenna 132 may be adapted to operate onmultiple protocols, such as, for example, multiple carrier frequenciesor network bands.

A variety of different types of processing devices 134 may be used forthe reader device 102, such as, for example, a programmable, dedicated,and/or hardwired state machine, or any combination thereof. Theprocessing device 134 of the reader device 102 may further includemultiple processors, such as, for example, Arithmetic-Logic Units(ALUs), Central Processing Units (CPUs), Digital Signal Processors(DSPs), or the like. Processing devices 134 with multiple processingunits may also utilize distributed, pipelined, and/or parallelprocessing. The processing device 134 may also be dedicated toperformance of just the operations described herein or may be utilizedin one or more additional applications. In the depicted form, theprocessing device 134 is of a programmable variety that executesalgorithms and processes data in accordance with operating logic 140 asdefined by programming instructions (such as software or firmware)stored in the memory 136 of the reader device 102. Alternatively oradditionally, the operating logic 140 is at least partially defined byhardwired logic or other hardware. The processing device 134 may includeone or more components of any type suitable to process the signalsreceived from an input/output device 142 of the reader device 102, suchas, for example, a keypad, or elsewhere, and to provide desired outputsignals. Such components may include digital circuitry, analogcircuitry, or a combination of both.

The memory 136 of the reader device 102 may be included with theprocessing device 134 and/or coupled to the processing device 134.Further, the memory 136 may be of one or more types, such as asolid-state variety, electromagnetic variety, optical variety, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the memory 136 can be volatile,nonvolatile, or a combination thereof, and some or all of the memory 136can be of a portable variety, such as a disk, tape, memory stick,cartridge, or the like. In addition, according to certain embodiments,the memory 136 can store data that is manipulated by the operating logic140 of processing device 134, such as data representative of signalsreceived from and/or sent to the input/output device 142 in addition to,or in lieu of, storing programming instructions defining the operatinglogic 140.

The server 108 may include one or more servers that may communicate withthe reader device 102 in a variety of different manners, including, forexample, over a wide area network (WAN) (e.g. the Internet), a cellulardata network, a local area network (LAN), or any combination thereof.According to certain embodiments, at least one server 108 is acloud-based server. However, a variety of other different types ofservers may also be used for the server 108, including, for example, aweb-based server. Further, according to certain embodiments, differentservers may be used for different purposes, such as, for example, acloud-based server for installation, maintenance, and/or management of,or relating to, the access control system 100, the reader device 102,and/or the credential device 106, and another, different server, suchas, for example, a web-based server, for other purposes, such as, forexample, general, day-to-day usage and/or operation of the reader device102 and/or the credential device 106.

The server 108 may be configured to store a variety of differentinformation, including, for example, user lists, access logs, andinformation related to each credential device 106, such as, for example,access permissions for each credential device 106 corresponding to eachuser in the user lists, a location, status, and/or type identifiers foreach credential device 106 and/or reader device 102, and/or any otherinformation for the system 100. The server 108 may further includenon-transitory computer executable instructions to perform variousoperations in the form of an application. The various operations mayinclude, but are not limited to, functionality to manage the readerdevice 102, verifying access permissions received from the credentialdevices 106 at each reader device 102, and updating the server 108 userlists, access permissions, adding and/or removing reader devices 102for/from the system 100, among other operations.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary process 300 forconducting a transmission between the credential device 106 and thereader device 106. Operations illustrated for all of the processes inthe present application are understood to be examples only, andoperations may be combined or divided, and added or removed, as well asre-ordered in whole or in part, unless explicitly stated to thecontrary.

At step 302, credentials may be established granting the credentialdevice 106, and/or the associated user, authority and/or the requisitepermission level to operate one or more reader devices 102 of the accesscontrol system 100. For example, according to certain embodiments, suchas, for example, embodiments in which the processing device 120 and/ormemory 126 of the credential device 106 is a read-only device, thecredential device 106 may be assigned an identifier, such as, forexample, a serial number, that may be stored in the memory 126 of thecredential device 106. That identifier may also be provided to theserver 108 and/or the memory 136 of the reader device 102 with anindication that that identifier has authorization to operate the readerdevice 102 and/or authorization to gain access through the entryway 112.Thus, according to certain embodiments, when the reader device 102detects, or is otherwise provided with, credentials having thatidentifier, the reader device 102 may access the memory 136 of thereader device 102 and/or the server 108 to determine whether theidentifier is, or is not, associated with a grant of authority tooperate the reader device 102 and/or to gain access through the entryway112. If the reader device 102 and/or server determine that identifier isassociated with a grant of authority to operate the reader device 102,then, according to certain embodiments, the reader device 102 mayoperate the associated lock mechanism 138 so that the lock mechanism 138is in an unlocked position, thereby allowing for access to, or through,the associated entryway 112.

According to other embodiments, the server 108 and/or reader device 102may provide a credential(s) that is stored on the memory 126 of thecredential device 106 that is associated with a grant of authority tooperate the reader device 102 and/or to gain access to/through theassociated entryway 112. For example, according to certain embodimentsin which the processing device 120 of the credential device 106 is aread-write device, the server 108 and/or reader device 102 may provide acredential(s), which may or may not be partially or completelyencrypted, that is stored on the memory 126 of the credential device106. When the reader device 102 detects, or is otherwise provided withthat credential(s) from the credential device 106, the reader device 102and/or server 108 may perform steps necessary to determine whether thecredential(s) grant authority to operate the reader device 102 and/or topass through the entryway 112. Such steps may include decryptingencrypted information of the credential and/or evaluating thecredential(s) in terms of information stored in the memory 136 of thereader device 102 and/or the server 108, among other steps.

At step 304, one or more of the system antennas 104 may emit anelectronic signal via a first signal, such as, for example, amelectromagnetic signal via a radio frequency (RF), that is used toprovide at least some power or energy to the credential device 106. Aspreviously discussed, according to certain embodiments, for example, thefirst signal may have a relatively short range, which may assist in thequantity of power delivered to the credential device 106 using the firstsignal. Moreover, according to certain embodiments, the credentialdevice 106 may be in closer proximity to the system antenna 104 than thecredential device 106 is to the reader device 102 when the credentialdevice 106 at least initially receives power via detection of the firstsignal. Such a configuration may allow the credential device 106 tocommunicate with the reader device 102, and subsequently receiveauthorization to pass through the entryway 112, before the credentialdevice 106 and/or associated user reaches the reader device 102 and/orthe associated entryway 112. Further, according to certain embodiments,one or more system antennas 104 may be positioned along the pathway tothe entryway 112 so that the credential device 106 continues to receivepower via detection of the first signal as that credential device 106and/or user continues to move toward the reader device 102 and/or theentryway 112. For example, referencing FIG. 1, the credential device 106may receive power from a first system antenna 104 a when the credentialdevice 106 is x₁ away from the reader device 102, and from a secondsystem antenna 104 b when the credential device 106 is x₂ away from thereader device, with x₁ being a distance that is greater than x₂.Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the distance x₁ may beabout the same as the maximum range for transmissions between the readerdevice 102 and the credential device 106 using the second signal.

At step 306, the first signal emitted from the system antennas 104 maybe detected by the first antenna 116 of the credential device 106 and atleast a portion of the detected first signal harvested by the credentialdevice 106 to provide power or energy for the operation of thecredential device 106. According to certain embodiments, as previouslydiscussed, at least a portion of the energy that is harvested by thecredential device 106 may be at least temporarily stored by the powerstorage device 130 of the credential device 106.

At step 308, using the power harvested from the first signal and/or fromthe power storage device 130, the credential device 106 may retrieve thecredential(s) from the memory 126 of the credential device 106. Again,such credential(s) may provide an indication of a grant of authorityand/or permission levels associated with the credential device 106. Atstep 310, using power harvested from the received first signal and/orpower from the power storage device 130, the credential device 106 maytransmit a second signal having, or otherwise indicative of, thecredential(s) to the reader device 102. As discussed above, the secondsignal may have a frequency that is different than the frequency of thefirst signal. Further, the second signal may be emitted from thecredential device 106 using the first antenna 116 that was used todetect the first signal, or via another, second antenna 124.

At step 312, the reader device 102 may receive the credential(s)transmitted from the credential device 106 using the second signal. Atstep 314, the reader device 102 may authenticate the receivedcredential(s). Such authentication may include evaluating whether thereceived credential is associated with a grant of authorization to passthrough the associated entryway 112 and/or operate the reader device102, such as, for example, cause the lock mechanism 138 to be placed inthe unlocked position. Again, such evaluation may involve accessinginformation stored on the reader device 102, such as, for example, inthe memory 136, or may involve communications with the server 108. Ifthe evaluation indicates that the credential(s) is associated with theauthorization to operate the reader device 102, then at step 316, thereader device 102 may be operated, such as, for example, the lockmechanism 138 of the reader device 102 being placed in the unlockedposition.

Various features and advantages of the present invention are set forthin the following claims. Additionally, changes and modifications to thedescribed embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilledin the art, and such changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention and withoutdiminishing its intended advantages. While the present invention hasbeen illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoingdescription, the same is to be considered illustrative and notrestrictive in character, it being understood that only selectedembodiments have been shown and described and that all changes,equivalents, and modifications that come within the scope of theinventions described herein or defined by the following claims aredesired to be protected.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for communicating a credentialfrom a credential device to a reader device, the method comprising:transmitting, from a first system antenna that is physically separatefrom the reader device by at least a first distance, a first signalhaving a first frequency, the first signal being detectable by thecredential device at a distance no greater than the first distance awayfrom the first system antenna; detecting, by the credential device, thefirst signal; harvesting, by the credential device, electrical powerfrom the detected first signal; transmitting, by the credential deviceand using at least in part the harvested electrical power, a secondsignal from the credential device, the second signal providing thecredential to the reader device, the second signal having a secondfrequency that is different than the first frequency; detecting, by thereader device, the transmitted second signal at least when thecredential device is at the second distance away from the reader devicethat is greater than the first distance, the reader device being at adistance away from the first system antenna by a distance that isgreater than the first distance such that the first signal is undetectedby the reader device; and unlocking, by the reader device, a lockmechanism after detection of the credential of the second signal.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first signal is an electromagneticsignal.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second signal uses a lowbandwidth wireless communication protocol.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the low bandwidth wireless communication protocol is at leastone of the following: Bluetooth, Zigbee, Near Field Communication, orIEEE 802.15.
 5. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of:transmitting, from at least one second system antenna, at least onethird signal having the first frequency, the first system antenna andthe at least one second system antenna positioned for the credentialdevice to selectively continuously harvest electrical power from atleast one of the first signal and the at least one third signal at leastuntil the completion of the step of unlocking the lock mechanism;detecting, by the reader device, the transmitted credential in thedetected second signal; and evaluating the authentication of thereceived credential.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step ofevaluating the authentication of the received credential is performed bythe reader device, and wherein the step of unlocking the lock mechanismis in response to an outcome of the evaluation of the authentication ofthe received credential.
 7. A wireless credential access control systemcomprising: at least one system antenna adapted to emit a first signal,the first signal having a first frequency; at least one credentialdevice having at least one antenna and a processing device, the firstsignal being detectable by the at least one antenna at no greater than afirst distance from the at least one system antenna, the at least onecredential device configured to harvest energy from the first signal toprovide power for at least the transmission of a credential stored onthe at least one credential device via a second signal, the secondsignal having a second frequency that is different than the firstfrequency of the first signal; and a reader device having a lockmechanism, the reader device being physically separate from the at leastone system antenna by at least a distance that is greater than the firstdistance such that the first signal is undetected by the reader device,the reader device structured to receive the transmission of the secondsignal at least when the at least one credential device is separatedfrom the reader device by a distance that is greater than the firstdistance.
 8. The wireless credential access control system of claim 7,wherein the reader device includes at least one reader antenna and aprocessing device, the reader device configured to receive the secondsignal from the credential device via the at least one reader antenna,the reader device further adapted to evaluate the credential todetermine whether the credential indicates an authority to operate thereader device.
 9. The wireless credential access control system of claim8, wherein the reader device is configured to, when the evaluation ofthe credential indicates authority to operate the reader device, placethe lock mechanism in an unlock position.
 10. The wireless credentialaccess control system of claim 9, wherein the first signal is anelectromagnetic signal.
 11. The wireless credential access controlsystem of claim 10, wherein the second signal uses a low bandwidthwireless communication protocol.
 12. The wireless credential accesscontrol system of claim 11, wherein the at least one antenna of thecredential device includes a first antenna configured to detect thefirst signal, and a second antenna to transmit the second signal. 13.The wireless credential access control system of claim 11, wherein theat least one system antenna comprises a plurality of system antennaspositioned to continuously supply electrical power for the credentialdevice as the credential device is both (1) at a distance no greaterthan the first distance from at least one of the plurality of systemantennas, and (2) displaced toward the reader deceive from a distanceaway from the reader device that is greater than the first distance. 14.A wireless credential access control system comprising: at least onesystem antenna adapted to emit a first signal no greater than a firstdistance from the at least one system antenna, the first signal having afirst frequency; at least one credential device having a first antennaadapted to detect the first signal, the at least one credential deviceconfigured to harvest energy from at least a portion of the first signalthat is detected by the first antenna, the at least one credentialdevice further adapted to transmit a credential via a second signal to adistance away from the at least one credential device that is greaterthan the first distance using the harvested energy, the second signalhaving a second frequency that is different than the first frequency ofthe first signal; and a reader device having a reader antenna, aprocessing device, and a lock mechanism, the reader antenna configuredto receive the second signal transmitted from the at least onecredential device at least when the credential device transmits thesecond signal from a distance away from the reader device that isgreater than the first distance, the reader device being adapted toevaluate the credential transmitted from the at least one credentialdevice and to place the lock mechanism in an unlocked position based onan outcome of the evaluation of the credential, the reader device beingphysically separate from the at least one system antenna by at least adistance that is greater than the first distance such that the firstsignal is undetected by the reader device.
 15. The wireless credentialaccess control system of claim 14, wherein the first signal is anelectromagnetic signal and the second signal uses a low bandwidthwireless communication protocol.
 16. The wireless credential accesscontrol system of claim 15, wherein the second signal is transmitted bya second antenna of the at least one credential device.
 17. The wirelesscredential access control system of claim 15, wherein the lock mechanismincludes a bolt or latch that is retracted when the lock mechanism is inthe unlocked position.
 18. The wireless credential access control systemof claim 17, wherein the at least one system antenna comprises aplurality of system antennas positioned to continuously provideelectrical power for the credential device as the credential device isdisplaced toward the reader device from a distance away from the readerdevice that is greater than the first distance.
 19. The wirelesscredential access control system of claim 17, further including a serverthat is communicatively coupled to the reader device.
 20. The wirelesscredential access control system of claim 17, wherein the reader deviceincludes a local database containing access permission information.